Sweatband



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ug. 1, 1961 A. osTwALD SWEATBAND Filed Oct. 50, 1957 Aug. l, 1961 A. os'rwALD 2,994,090

SWEATBAND Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /pof/ 057ML@ BY v-#w 32% ATTORNEYS United States Patent A. i ce 2,994,999 Patented Aug. -1, 1961 2,994,090 SWEATBAND Adolph Ostwald, Staten Island, N.Y. Filed Oct. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 693,384 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-182.1)

This invention relates to cap and hat constructions and more especially to a novel headband or sweatband arrangement. While the invention is applicable to most types of mens and boys caps and hats, it is believed to possess marked advantages when employed in military type caps.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a headband or sweatband construction for caps and hats which effects a pronounced cushioning at the front of the cap.

lt is a further object to provide such a band construction as will eiect a snug fit of the cap especially at the sides and back of the head, with a cushioning arrangement at the front which will compensate for various sizes of heads.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a construction which is simple and can be fabricated easily by the use of machine stitching.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a novel headband or sweatband comprised of a leather strip having generally arcuate edges, with the lower edge at the front of the cap having an enlarged hump, which in the finished article provides a cushioned area in the forehead area of the cap.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of the headband forming a part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a military type cap embodying the invention. The cap shown has only partially been completed. The top of the crown has yet to be added.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the under side of the cap shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a central vertical section view taken through the cap of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The invention has been illustrated and will be described as incorporated in a military type cap. Such a cap, generally indicated as 1, is comprised principally of a crown, only the lower portion 2 of which is shown, a visor 3 of stiff material, and a leather headband 4, also referred to as a sweatband. The invention may further include a cushioning element 5 of sponge-like rubber, cellulose, or the like, which is disposed at the front of the cap between the headband 4 and the lower portion 2 lof the crown.

In the military type cap here illustrated, the lower portion 2 of the crown is made from a strip of heavy woven cloth which has been treated with a stitfening material to cause it to retain its shape. The strip is formed into an oval which is a little larger in size than the intended cap size and the overlapping ends of the strip are then secured to each other. An unstiened cloth strip 6 is then folded over the lower edge of the crown 2 and is then stitched to the crown as by the stitching 7 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The visor 3 which is of stil plastic, or the like, and suitably edged, is secured to the crown by stitching 8 (FIG. 4) which extends through the visor, the strip 6 and the lower edge 2 of the crown over which the strip 6 has been folded, as described.

FIG. l shows the leather headband or sweatband 4 spread out to show its special configuration. In this figure the upper edge of the headband as shown in FIG.

1 actually becomes the lower edge when the band is in the finished cap. The position illustrated in FIG. 1 is the position of the band at the time it is stitched to the cap. After stitching it is folded inwardly to assume the position shown in FIG. 2.

The headband 4, instead of being the usual band having straight parallel edges, has edges which generally are slightly arcuate. The upper edge 9 (which is the lowermost edge in the position shown in FIG. 1) is cut on a slight are. The lower edge 10 (upper edge in FIG. l) has end portions parallel to the opposite edge, but the intermediate portion forms a widened, gently curved hump 11.

Along this lower humped edge 10 is the usual cloth binding strip 12 which is joined thereto by stitching 13.

The headband 4 is stitched to the cap by stitching the strip 12 through the various layers of material adjacent the lower edge of the crown 2. During stitching the headband 4 is disposed with its lower edge 10 uppermost and with the hump in front. The stitching 14, however, regardless of the hump is on a substantially straight line and can be effected by a machine stitching operation. Thereafter, the headband is folded inwardly within the crown, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Because of the presence of the hump 11 lon the lower edge 10 of the band, which hump is disposed along the front edge of the crown from which the rigid visor 3 protrudes, and because of the fact that the stitching is substantially on a straight line rather than following the contour of the hump, a cushioning space 15 is provided (FIG. 4) between the headband 4 and the crown 2 in that area. This cushioning space prevents the forehead of the wearer from directly contacting the rigid, heavy front portion of the crown and visor. Moreover, such a cushioning results in a more comfortable and accurate tit. This is because this cushioning provides for some variation at the very place where needed. Except at the front, where the visor is, that portion of the crown which contacts the head is suciently flexible to follow and conform to the contour of the head. At the front, however, the presence of the visor renders the front portion of the crown rigid and inexible. Accordingly, were it not for the present invention with the headband 4 spaced from the crown in front, so as to provide an effective cushion, the cap probably would not fit, or if it chanced to, would be most uncomfortable.

If so desired, the space 15 may be partially or fully lled with a cushioning element, such as element 5 of some sponge-like rubber, cellulose, or the like.

Thus, because of the special shape of the headband 4 with its hump 11, and the particular disposition thereof within the cap, several advantages are obtained.

One advantage is that the band can be stitched in place by machine. Heretofore, such a cushioning space in the usual headbands (flat or slightly arcuate but with no hump) could not be obtained unless the band was stitched on by hand-sewing accompanied by pulling and stretching the base edge of the band during stitching. Even then, only a very narrow cushioning space would be provided.

Secondly, the invention permits the cap to be worn by persons having diiferent (though not too radically diiferent) head sizes. This is because the sides and back of the crown adjust to the contour of the head while the .cushioning effect created by the space 15 and cushion 5 enable the adjustment to contour and head size in front, regardless of the rigid character of the front structure of the cap. This is also an advantage where the cap is for a growing youth in a school band, or the like, since the cushioning space accommodates for natural growth of the head.

Moreover, the invention provides the cushioning effect right at the front, Where in a military cap or shako the weight and rigidity is greatest, and cushioning is highly desired.

It is apparent that some changes in the invention disclosed may be made without departing from the invention. The description and drawings show a preferred embodiment but the invention is not to be limited thereto except as may be indicated by the language in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A headband for headpieces such as hats or caps comprising an integral single piece lof material adapted to extend around the inner surface of the headband in the unstitched flat position having an arcuate upper edge, the lower edge of the headband in the unstitched fiat position having arcuate end portions substantially parallel to the upper edge and a central portion having a hump formed with an arcuate edge of substantially increased curvature, a straight line of stitching allong the lower edge of the headband securing the headband in 20 the crown of the headpiece, the hump on the lower edge of the integral headband being disposed adjacent the front of the headpiece, the straight line of stitching caus- References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 223,177 Simis Dec. 30, 1879 456,785 Webb July 28, 1891 1,290,570 Julich Ian. 7, 1919 1,899,020 Drueding Feb. 28, 1933 2,013,088 Drueding Sept. 3, 1935 2,024,366 Israel Dec. 17, 1935 2,118,583 Adamson May 24, 1938 2,685,692 Patterson Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,198 Great Britain July 27, 1905 of 1905 263,474 Great Britain Dec. 30, 1926 

